THE government “stands ready” to support the Battle of Flowers to “secure the long-term future” of the financially troubled event.
Despite having its government grant almost doubled to £270,000 for last year’s celebration, it emerged recently that the 2024 Battle made a loss and that exhibitors were still waiting for payment.
Meanwhile, the organisers paid an undisclosed sum to bring UK music stars Sam Ryder and Marti Pellow to last year’s event in the hope that the pair would boost ticket sales.
Economic Development Minister Kirsten Morel, who has responsibility for arts, heritage and culture, confirmed to the JEP that he was working with the Battle of Flowers Association to “secure the long-term future of the event”.
An emergency meeting was held by the association in St Ouen’s Parish Hall on Monday, but access was restricted to members only. An annual general meeting is due to follow.
Deputy Morel said: “The Battle holds significant cultural and community importance to Jersey and we will continue to assist efforts to secure its sustainable future. We’re awaiting a grant request for 2025 and stand ready to support this. The volunteers work hard to put the Battle on each year and I will be working with their association to secure the long-term future of the event.”
The 2024 celebration grant was up 80% from £150,000 in 2023.
At the time, Deputy Morel told the JEP that the increased funding was aimed at addressing the “headwinds” facing the event since the pandemic and providing organisers with the means to “reinvigorate” it for a new generation of Islanders and tourists.
When asked last year about the disparity between Battle’s grant and that of the Jersey International Air Display (£40,000), Deputy Morel said they were not “comparable events”.
He added: “One of the key differences between [Battle] and the air display in terms of government funding was that the Battle of Flowers Association came to us a long time ago, a year ago, with a business case [saying] if you can give us this much extra funding, we will do this, this and this to modernise etc.”
The JEP has repeatedly contacted Jersey Battle of Flowers Association chairman Russell Labey, who is yet to provide a comment to this newspaper.
